Chapter 66

"Why of course, Lady Montgomery" came a pristine and poised voice and we all stood to greet the queen dowager, "this was after all a competition and the winner gets the prize" she smiled as the servants carried her throne with her and she sat majestically, crown glimmering as it caught the sun.

I couldn't help but be equally grateful and frightened at her sudden appearance. She smiled at all of us benevolently, like a true ruler might.

"Please sit" she gestured a hand towards us and we all sat slowly, "now let's have the winner of this competition stand".

I stood up, the fox in my arms taken by a maid and delivered to the old woman, the clinking of the orange jewel between its teeth catching the dowagers eyes as they crinkled with a smile. The fox opened a sleepy eye and his mouth slaked, the jewel dropping and landing in the dowagers awaiting hands.

She lifted it with an elegant smile, eyes drifting to me in an affectionate way that made me relax.

"I quite liked the idea of the hunt and it was an honour to walk in the woodlands" I said, trying to appease to the dowager and hide away my absolute tiredness.

"I'm glad for it. This little one has caused me some trouble", the fox was nestled in her lap and she petted it with a familiarity that was almost shameless. She was truly showing us that she planned it all. "Your prize, Lady Colter, will be awarded tomorrow morning in these exact gardens. The place will be closed from other visitor so please come alone".

"I'm honoured" I curtsied, unable to wonder what kind of a gift it was that she couldn't outright give it to me.

I caught Lady Montgomery glaring at me with such ferocity I winced. It was gone the moment I turned her way, replaced by a polite smile. There was an intensity in her eyes that suggested she had strong feeling towards me- and not the positive kind.

"Now I do enjoy a welcoming gathering usually, however there are some things that I can not turn a blind eye to" The dowager hit her cane on the ground as her voice sharpened and she glared at each and everyone of us, "A lady among us had set her supposed bodyguards on another young lady- my security took care of the problem, but unfortunately I need to nip this in the bud. Lady Hue!"

Lady Hue's shoulders shook as everyones attention rested on the soft featured girl. Her eyes wide with fear as they stared at the dowager, brows risen almost beyond her forehead. She looked as confused as the rest of us.

"Yes your majesty?!" She replied urgently, knees knocking against the table as she stood up.

The dowager lifted a tea cup, taking a sip of it before the cup dropped dramatically, rolling until it stopped before the poor quivering girl, who really looked as if she understood nothing. I glanced around to see if anyone understood why this was happening. My eyes rested on the only expression that stood out among the confused ones, Lady Montgomery, Wore a look of triumph.

"The bodyguards were found to be the property of The hue household".

"What?" Lady Hue's jaw slackened and she stumbled back in shock, "there's no way!- my body guards haven't even accompanied me" she said.

"There's no need to fret. I don't plan on pushing any legal action on you. Instead, you'll be disqualified from this competition".

"Your majesty! You must believe me I did not"-

"Do not trouble her majesty any further, Lady Hue. She has already forgiven you so leave with that in mind" Lady Montgomery spoke up, voice snide. A smile full of what I knew was coyness playing on her lips.

Lady Hue stared at her blankly, and then as if a pin dropped in her mind she pointed at her, finger shaking. But whatever words she planned to shout or even scream died in her throat as she looked at the dowager. Her head hanging low.

By now we could all see it. Or at least I could.

Lady Hue wasn't the offender here, but she had fallen into an elaborate trap that one couldn't climb out of. I shivered at the thought of falling for whatever excuse she must have to have her own bodyguards instructed by someone else.

An innocent plea? A pity case?

"Forgive my insolence, your majesty. I shall prepare to leave immediately" She hung her head low and stood up.

"Well done, my child" was all the dowager said as she ran off.

Could she truly by blind to it all?

I watched the ancient eyes that watched Lady Hue leave, noticing a rare emotion on that stony face. A bittersweet smile.

It was obvious then.

The queen knew. She knew that Lady Hue was innocent. But then why wouldn't she call out the true perpetrator? Wouldn't that normally be the case?

I felt my brows knit as I stared down at my hands in contemplation. And then as I lifted them up, my eyes rested on the crown atop the dowagers head. A small thin thing that symbolised a mountain of power.

A queen… A queen should be able to escape the publics attention. Every queen should be able to present an image that was pure and elegant. Was that it? Was that why?

Then… why had I passed?

I had done nothing to get this far…

My eyes met the dowagers and I noticed the maid who cleaned up the dowagers mess. I recalled how the dowager hadn't even called anyone to take Lady Hue away. How she had not blinked once to command a single maid, yet they did as she wanted.

A true queen shouldn't have to lift a finger to fulfil her duty.